Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Thursday alleged that a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state would have compromised Himachal Pradesh’s interests in the Kishau dam project. He said the previous agreement would have caused significant financial losses to the state, while his government’s decision to reject the 2023 deal helped protect economic interests.

Sukhu said the revised agreement for the Kishau project would provide Himachal Pradesh with additional annual revenue of around Rs 600 crore. He described the move as a major achievement for strengthening the state’s financial position and said his government would continue taking decisions focused on protecting Himachal Pradesh’s long-term interests.

The Chief Minister said the Congress government was implementing its agenda of “Vyavastha Parivartan” by converting public expectations into welfare initiatives. He highlighted schemes aimed at supporting orphaned children, widows, single women, meritorious students and other vulnerable sections of society, claiming that these measures were being implemented on the ground.

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Speaking about the impact of natural disasters in the state, Sukhu said the government had increased compensation for completely damaged houses from Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 8 lakh using its own resources. He described the enhanced relief amount as the highest disaster compensation provided by any state in the country and said the government continued to support affected families despite financial challenges.

Sukhu also criticised the reduction in the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), saying the state faced a cut of around Rs 10,000 crore annually. He alleged that the Centre was ignoring Himachal Pradesh’s concerns and claimed that the state was still awaiting the Rs 1,500 crore disaster relief assistance announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Kangra in 2025.

The Chief Minister further alleged that BJP leaders had not jointly approached the Prime Minister to seek financial support for the state. Responding to questions at an event, he accused the BJP of using central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation for political purposes ahead of elections.

Sukhu claimed that the Congress government was functioning with transparency and accountability and said no allegations had been raised against his Cabinet during its three-and-a-half years in office. He also stated that political divisions within the BJP had affected public confidence in the party, while his government remained focused on development and welfare initiatives.

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